Son of Interflux.

Emily Walters Gregor is a graduate student in 20th-century American
literature and an ESL writing tutor at the University of Minnesota.

In this re-release of the well-received 1986 publication, 16-year old Simon Irving’s father is the CEO of Interflux—a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of “vital non-essentials.” At the behest of its board chair, Interflux is designing a massive new manufacturing complex in the Long Island community to which Simon and his family have just moved. This complex happens to be on the site of Simon’s new school: the Nassau County High School for Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts.

Simon’s talent for painting garnered him a spot in this institution, saving him from a certain future working for this father. Simon rallies the school population, who establish a corporation of their own to fight the takeover: Antiflux. Antiflux draws on the creative talents and savvy of the school’s students to preserve the natural area currently surrounding the institution.

Though the subject matter is serious, Son of Interflux is full of wry humour and slapstick moments. Most importantly, however, like all the best examples of young adult literature, Korman never underestimates the intelligence, creativity, and capability of his characters or readers. The familiar conflict between father and son is interwoven with other nuanced challenges: between friends and family, art and industry, nature and the built environment, and principles and practice. Korman treats all of these with humour and respect. Highly recommended.